Agricultural engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $98,590 | $47.40 |
| Mean (average) | $108,230 | $52.04 |
| 90th percentile | $166,460 | $80.03 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Agricultural engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 14 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $57,740 | $37,090 | $106,980 | 40 | 2.86 |
| Colorado | $88,650 | $73,920 | $107,160 | 30 | 1.17 |
| Illinois | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.67 | ||
| Indiana | $94,730 | $67,250 | $139,880 | 150 | 5.01 |
| Iowa | $96,290 | $83,470 | $155,760 | 100 | 6.56 |
| Michigan | $80,490 | $75,200 | $143,110 | ||
| Minnesota | $115,940 | $89,190 | $125,590 | 60 | 1.98 |
| Mississippi | $91,560 | $48,870 | $133,200 | 40 | 3.66 |
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 120 | 4.27 | ||
| Ohio | $119,250 | $69,970 | $142,730 | 60 | 1.19 |
| Oklahoma | $86,970 | $54,650 | $140,010 | 120 | 7.5 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,300 | $60,530 | $117,540 | ||
| Puerto Rico | $40,690 | $37,670 | $58,630 | 40 | 4.55 |
| Texas | $95,220 | $81,330 | $175,760 | 50 | 0.4 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for agricultural engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for agricultural engineers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Agricultural Engineering CIP 14.0301
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
- Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
- Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
- Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
- Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
- Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation.
- Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
Technology skills
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Oracle Java (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation, Systems Analysis, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Common job titles: Agricultural Engineer, Agricultural Systems Specialist, Conservation Engineer, Engineer, Field Engineer, Product Engineer, Product Technology Scientist, Project Engineer, Research Agricultural Engineer, Research Engineer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do agricultural engineers make?
The national median annual wage for agricultural engineers was $98,590 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $68,060 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $166,460. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do agricultural engineers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is agricultural engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of agricultural engineers to change +6.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay agricultural engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Ohio ($119,250), Minnesota ($115,940), Iowa ($96,290). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.